Towing Can be Technical, But It Doesn't Have to be Difficult — and anybody who has bought a camper, trailer or RV can tell you there's a lot to learn when it comes time to hitch-up and tow.
Today, there is a larger-than-ever variety of towing products for applications that require differing types of trailers, equipment and tools. Depending on your trailer, towing needs and experience level, the tools of the job may vary. Thankfully, there are new products and technologies that have transformed a technical task into a much more simplified experience.
CURT has the tools, technology and products you need for any towing application. Our list of top ten trailer upgrades includes unique products that can help to transform the stress of towing into a memorable and smooth experience that allows you to enjoy the trip towards your destination, instead of worrying each mile of the way.
Our products allow you to relax on your travels and tow with confidence, whether that be towing your RV for a family vacation, a toy hauler for an off-roading excursion or towing horses to the stables, and everything else in between.
This list of must-have RV and utility trailer upgrades will help you to transform your towing experience and have you confidently towing like a pro. This list goes beyond the towing basics like ratchet straps, cargo nets, locks and LED lights.
Lippert Scouts Reagan and D’Anne Terrill, also known as the couple behind RV Travelers Voice , have been traveling around the country in their Forest River Wildwood for several years now. Along the way, they’ve become familiar with the types of tools and supplies they need regularly. In this blog post, Reagan details his list of travel trailer must-haves for new RV owners, answering the newbie question, “Where do I begin?”
So, you’ve got yourself a new or “new to you” travel trailer. Maybe this is your first travel trailer, or it has been a while since you’ve owned one. Either way, now the fun begins. You might be asking yourself, “Where do I start?” You are certainly familiar with the basic aspects of living in a fixed home – gas, electricity, water, food preparation, refrigeration, heating, air conditioning – as well as the basics of hot/cold water supply, sinks, showers and toilets. However, much of that was already in place when you moved into your house or apartment. Now, you have a different “home” – one on wheels.
Whether you have a park model – one that you plan to keep in a set location for a while – or an RV that you plan to travel about this wonderful world to adventure and explore, there are certain things you’ll need to take care of yourself, and you should be prepared to handle those aspects of travel trailer life from day one.
The one big difference you’ll constantly need to keep in the back of your mind is that your new home is now mobile. While moving it about, I like to think of it as going through an “extended earthquake” every time I’m towing it along the road. When I get to my destination, I’m now presented with the challenging opportunity of securing the rig, making it level, establishing sufficient electric supply, ensuring an adequate and clean water supply, preparing for sanitary storage and disposal of wastewater, and providing sufficient gas for cooking and heating. On top of that, you’ll want to ensure you can take care of your rig so that you can repeat this process successfully over and over again.
Thinking back to a few years ago when we purchased our brand-new Forest River Wildwood 29VBUD, no sooner had we made the leap to put a deposit down on our new rig when the front porch of our home began to resemble an Amazon mini-warehouse. This wasn’t our first travel trailer, but it had been a few decades since we had parted ways with our last trailer. We were a bit rusty on what we might need to get on the road to making wonderful camping memories with our new trailer. While our dealership was very helpful in providing a list of what was included in their “starter kit” that was to be delivered in conjunction with delivery of the travel trailer, we decided to do some research on our own. Enter the world wide web and YouTube!
Our research took us to several individuals and families that were very helpful. We looked for people that were experienced and those that were just starting out, like us. We also gathered insights from the near-newbies – those that had been at it a relatively short while, just long enough to share their experiences with “stocking up” as a newbie. We listened to their subsequent learnings about what they wish they had originally and didn’t get, as well as what they thought were “must-haves” but didn’t end up needing or using.
While there were always some variations in their opinions regarding “must-haves,” there was typically one item that was consistent – MAKE A LIST. So, if you’ve read this far and don’t have yourself a pen and paper, go get one (or use your electronic device) and start a list. Make notes, add items, scratch things off, put stars by the things that are highly important and write down questions to explore and research later. This will help you get organized, plan for shopping and take a bit of stress out of what might seem like an avalanche of questions you need to get answered before your first camping trip with your travel trailer so you don’t have to worry.
Now that you’re prepared, let’s begin.
At this point, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that these items noted below are based on our experience over the past three years. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list. We know that travel trailers and tow vehicles vary and that your needs may be different based on your rig, your goals, your camping style and your expectations for camping. Use this list as a springboard and discussion starter as you read through it. The products and materials are provided as examples for you to consider in each topic area.